New captain thrilled to be handed armband ahead of season's opening clash at Whitehawk

Max Worsfold has admitted that leading Staines Town out at Whitehawk on Saturday will be "a proud moment."

The 21-year-old left-sided marauder is thrilled to have been handed the captain's armband following the departure of Lewis Ferrell to fellow Vanarama South outfit Farnborough.

Worsfold - who was a Staines Town junior alongside keeper Jack Turner, himself made vice-captain - got the majority vote from his team-mates for the role and more importantly the nod from boss Marcus Gayle on Tuesday.

"I started the pre-season just wanting to hold down a regular place and start off as I finished last season, just to do well for the team and to work hard," explained Worsfold, arguably Swans' best player since the turn of the year.

"Marcus has taken that on board and has seen me as someone who is responsible on and off the field and hopefully someone who can be a role model.

"It is not something I expected but it will spur me on to do well. Hopefully the players will look up to me as someone who is quite influential in the team."

'Competition for places'

Modest and a quiet individual, Chertsey-born Worsfold - who started his career at Aldershot Town - aims to have a calming effect on the team and he added: "I'm not someone who will scream and shout all game, but you can still speak to the players, let them know what you're thinking and give them a word of advice.

"I'm not going to slaughter players because they won't respect that. I'm only 21 myself and still learning and when I was at Aldershot as a youngster I respected the older players who gave me guidance.

"All 11 players are captains in their own right, and for instance Jerel [Ifil] has played hundreds of games in the Football League and when he talks, everybody listens."

Having beaten favourite Sanchez Ming to the skipper's role, Worsfold is excited and believes the squad's strength-in-depth will be a factor.

"In pre-season a lot of improvements have been made and yes, there's competition for places, but we need that for when we have injuries and suspensions.

"Look at the numbers in the squad who have come through the Staines youth team and you have to take your hat off to Marcus for giving them a chance."

'Nice story'

Gayle added: "Max is a consistent performer in training and in games. He's a quiet lad and leads by his performances and by the quality he shows at a high level.

"The players voted for him as well and had their say, with Jack second.

"They both came through the Staines Town's juniors and they have gone away and come back to link up as outstanding candidates to lead the group, which is a nice story for them.

"Max is vocal when he is ready to be. It will bring out the best of him and he is mature for a 21-year-old.

"He has a fiance so has responsibility and Jack is a new dad so the two of them have homes to be responsible for and they can carry that onto the football pitch.

"I gave Max a hint he might be considered and from that moment he has shown determination to get it. The key word is consistency."

Gayle admitted Ming was disappointed but added: "Sanchez is very much a leader anyway and giving it to Max is not a disrespectful move against him.

"He will lead in his own way and there are others too in the team. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions and this was one of them."

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.